Break Away (The Beach Boys song)
Encyclopedia
"Break Away" is a song
recorded by The Beach Boys
in 1969. Written by Brian Wilson
and his father, Murry Wilson
, is credited as lyricist using the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar. Sometimes ranked as one of the band's stronger songs, it was a relatively unsuccessful single, charting at #63 in US Billboard (top 40 in Cash Box and Record World charts), but stronger abroad: #6 UK.
After the Smiley Smile
sessions, Brian Wilson served as less of a band leader in the studio. Between Surfer Girl
and the "Heroes and Villains
" single, Brian was credited as producer; thereafter production credits were assigned to "The Beach Boys". "Break Away" was the last release (aside from the single "Cool, Cool Water") on which he was named as producer until "Child of Winter
" in 1974.
"Break Away" features Carl Wilson singing verses (with Mike Love) and Al Jardine (with Brian Wilson) on the chorus. Initially, the song was planned to be released with Brian Wilson singing the first verse, as included on the 2001 compilation, Hawthorne, CA
. Early stereo studio mixes of this title provide verification, but these remixes are illicit.
Brian has said that The Monkees
inspired him to write this song.
Many commentators point out that the title of the song is a hidden message of relief, as The Beach Boys break away from Capitol records with their final single. Capitol had been under promoting The Beach Boys (not knowing how to transition them from a purely street-surf-summer band) and under documenting their sales. Having sued their record company, The Beach Boys were glad to break away from that relationship.
before moving on to Warner Brothers. The single peaked at the number 63 spot spot on the Billboard charts, and placed at number 35 in Record World and number 38 in Cash Box. The single was also released through Capitol Records in the same month in the United Kingdom. It was the band's final single of the 1960s in Britain. Capitol re-released the single in Britain in June 1975, although on that occasion the single failed to make any impact on the charts.
On regional US charts the single made the Beach Boys' weakest showing in major markets since the Christmas single "The Man with All the Toys
" five years earlier. Qualified success was seen in Los Angeles (KRLA), Fresno, Indianapolis (#15), Columbus (#11), Calgary (#14), Fargo (#17) and Council Bluffs (#4). Settling on the bottom rung of top twenty in Los Angeles and Fresno, it made just the top thirty in Chicago, Sacramento, areas of New England, but failing entirely elsewhere. It apparently made few or no showings on playlists throughout the entire Southern United States.
The single fared much better in Britain, peaking at the number 6 position. It was number 10 in Malaysia and Ireland, number 17 in The Netherlands, number 20 in New Zealand, number 29 in Germany and number 38 in Canada. It would be the band's last single to chart in Germany until 1987.
"Break Away" did not appear on a regular Beach Boys LP. It made its album debut in 1975 as part of the Spirit of America compilation, then as a bonus track on the two-in-one CD for Friends and 20/20.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
recorded by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
in 1969. Written by Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and his father, Murry Wilson
Murry Wilson
Murry Gage Wilson was an American musician and record producer, best remembered as the father of The Beach Boys members Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson, uncle of bandmate Mike Love, and the husband of Audree Wilson...
, is credited as lyricist using the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar. Sometimes ranked as one of the band's stronger songs, it was a relatively unsuccessful single, charting at #63 in US Billboard (top 40 in Cash Box and Record World charts), but stronger abroad: #6 UK.
After the Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile is the twelfth studio album by The Beach Boys, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling...
sessions, Brian Wilson served as less of a band leader in the studio. Between Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl is the third studio album by The Beach Boys and their second longplayer in 1963. This was the first album by The Beach Boys for which Brian Wilson was given full production credit, a position Wilson would maintain until the end of the The Smile Sessions in 1967...
and the "Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains
"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
" single, Brian was credited as producer; thereafter production credits were assigned to "The Beach Boys". "Break Away" was the last release (aside from the single "Cool, Cool Water") on which he was named as producer until "Child of Winter
Child of Winter
"Child of Winter " is a Christmas song written by Brian Wilson and Stephen Kalinich ....
" in 1974.
"Break Away" features Carl Wilson singing verses (with Mike Love) and Al Jardine (with Brian Wilson) on the chorus. Initially, the song was planned to be released with Brian Wilson singing the first verse, as included on the 2001 compilation, Hawthorne, CA
Hawthorne, CA (album)
Hawthorne, CA, subtitled Birthplace of a Musical Legacy, is the second anthology collection by The Beach Boys and released through Capitol Records...
. Early stereo studio mixes of this title provide verification, but these remixes are illicit.
Brian has said that The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
inspired him to write this song.
Many commentators point out that the title of the song is a hidden message of relief, as The Beach Boys break away from Capitol records with their final single. Capitol had been under promoting The Beach Boys (not knowing how to transition them from a purely street-surf-summer band) and under documenting their sales. Having sued their record company, The Beach Boys were glad to break away from that relationship.
Single release
The "Break Away" single backed with "Celebrate the News" was released through Capitol Records in the United States in June 1969. It was the band's final single of the 1960s and indeed was the band's penultimate single with Capitol RecordsCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
before moving on to Warner Brothers. The single peaked at the number 63 spot spot on the Billboard charts, and placed at number 35 in Record World and number 38 in Cash Box. The single was also released through Capitol Records in the same month in the United Kingdom. It was the band's final single of the 1960s in Britain. Capitol re-released the single in Britain in June 1975, although on that occasion the single failed to make any impact on the charts.
On regional US charts the single made the Beach Boys' weakest showing in major markets since the Christmas single "The Man with All the Toys
The Man with All the Toys
"The Man with All the Toys" is a Christmas song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1964 album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album. As a single that year it had limited success "The Man with All the Toys" is a Christmas song written...
" five years earlier. Qualified success was seen in Los Angeles (KRLA), Fresno, Indianapolis (#15), Columbus (#11), Calgary (#14), Fargo (#17) and Council Bluffs (#4). Settling on the bottom rung of top twenty in Los Angeles and Fresno, it made just the top thirty in Chicago, Sacramento, areas of New England, but failing entirely elsewhere. It apparently made few or no showings on playlists throughout the entire Southern United States.
The single fared much better in Britain, peaking at the number 6 position. It was number 10 in Malaysia and Ireland, number 17 in The Netherlands, number 20 in New Zealand, number 29 in Germany and number 38 in Canada. It would be the band's last single to chart in Germany until 1987.
"Break Away" did not appear on a regular Beach Boys LP. It made its album debut in 1975 as part of the Spirit of America compilation, then as a bonus track on the two-in-one CD for Friends and 20/20.